The device consists of a rotating disc fitted with 15 or 18 short lengths of spring-loaded chain that rides against the inside of the truck tyre. When the truck is in motion, it turns the disc, and the attached lengths of chain swing underneath the tyre, helping improve grip. Rotogrip can be deployed automatically from a switch on the dashboard. Doing so acts on a pneumatic cylinder, swinging the device down so it contacts the tyre, from a stowage position inside the axle.
A variant called Rotogrip Compact Solution was developed for vehicles with limited mounting space and ground clearance such as buses that have pneumatic suspensions and low-profile tyres. This one is bespoke to each vehicle, thanks to vehicle-specific adapters included in the kit.
